British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) have received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eight analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $51.00.

Several brokerages have recently commented on BTI. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, June 13th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Monday, June 8th.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 3.4%

Shares of BTI stock opened at $60.89 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $60.55 and a 200-day moving average of $59.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. British American Tobacco has a one year low of $46.38 and a one year high of $67.30.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BTI. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 12,870.7% during the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,470,709 shares of the company’s stock worth $502,687,000 after buying an additional 9,397,693 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 34.4% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 9,736,843 shares of the company’s stock worth $569,313,000 after buying an additional 2,494,576 shares during the last quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 20.7% during the second quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 14,503,968 shares of the company’s stock worth $686,473,000 after buying an additional 2,482,737 shares during the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 3,899.7% during the first quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 2,362,818 shares of the company’s stock worth $137,658,000 after buying an additional 2,303,743 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 3.0% during the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 64,057,419 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,399,352,000 after buying an additional 1,891,042 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Company Profile

British American Tobacco plc (BTI) is a multinational tobacco manufacturer and nicotine products company headquartered in London. Founded in 1902 as a joint venture to commercialize tobacco products outside the United States, the company has grown into one of the world’s largest tobacco firms with a long history in manufacturing and global distribution of combustible tobacco products.

BAT’s core business remains the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products under a portfolio of well-known consumer brands, including Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Kent and Rothmans.